In the April 1978 AR, The AR staff obtained permission to reprint a rather interesting poem by E.V. Rieu.

Following is a brief introduction and the poem in its entirety.

Ah Memories!

Note: The following poem will bring back happy (?) memories to the senior Fellows and elder statesmen.

Hall and Knight or z+b+x=y+b+z

by E.V. Rieu

When he was young his cousins used to say of Mr. Knight: `This boy will write an Algebraor looks as if he might' And sure enough, when Mr. Knight had grown to be a man, He purchased pen and paper and an inkpot, and began.

But he very soon discovered that he couldn't write at all, And his heart was filled with yearning for a certain Mr. Hall; Till, after many years of doubt, he sent his friend a card: 'Have tried to write an Algebra, but find it very hard.'

Now, Mr. Hall himself had tried to write a book for schools, But suffered from a handicap: he didn't know the rules. So when he heard from Mr. Knight and understood his gist, He answered him by telegram: 'Delighted to assist.'

So Mr. Hall and Mr. Knight they took a house together, And they worked away at algebra in any kind of weather, Determined not to give it up until they had evolved A problem so constructed that it never could be solved.

'How hard it is,' said Mr. Knight, 'to hide the fact from youth That x and y are equal: it is such an obvious truth!' 'It is,' said Mr. Hall, 'but if we gave a b to each, We'd put the problem well beyond our little victims' reach.'

'Or are you anxious, Mr. Knight, lest any boy should see The utter superfluity of this repeated b?' 'I scarcely fear it,' he replied, and scratched his grizzled head, 'But perhaps it would be safer if to b we added z.*'

'A brilliant stroke!' said Hall, and added z to either side: Then looked at his accomplice with a flush of happy pride. And Knight, he winked at Hall (a very pardonable lapse). And they printed off the Algebra and sold it to the chaps.

*Pronounced "Zed"

Reprinted from "The Flattered Flying Fish and Other Poems" by E.V. Rieu by kind permission of Miss Penelope Rieu and the publishers Methuen and Company, Ltd.

The Actuary printed this poem in December 1972 and has given permission to be reprinted here.